Each construction site comes with unique security risks that require bespoke solutions, but every site should have video surveillance. Construction sites are often large and busy places with multiple contractors, workers, and machinery moving around at any given time. This can create an environment that is ripe for accidents, theft, and vandalism. CCTV (closed-circuit television) or video surveillance, is a crucial tool for managing these risks and ensuring the safety and security of both workers and property. By installing CCTV cameras on a construction site, managers can monitor activity identify and respond to any potential threats or safety hazards. CCTV can also act as a deterrent, discouraging criminals from targeting the site and providing valuable evidence in the event of a theft or incident. Overall, CCTV is an essential tool for protecting construction sites and those who work on them.
However, on-site video surveillance systems can have their pitfalls, read on to find out more.
12 reasons why construction sites need video surveillance
1. Deter theft or vandalism on your building site
Just having security cameras installed in and around your construction site can deter criminals from even attempting to steal equipment or vandalize the property.
2. Stop crime on your construction site in real-time
Video surveillance systems can alert you to motion activity happening on your construction site in real-time.
Here’s an example of perpetrators being caught trespassing on a construction site with Videoloft, an offsite cloud video surveillance provider. The motion alert caused the site owner to call the police and the trespassers were intercepted before any significant damage was done.
Real footage captured by a Videoloft system
3. Provides vital video evidence
In the unfortunate scenario that theft or vandalism does occur, then video evidence can be vital in catching the perpetrators and recovering any stolen goods.
4. Video surveillance can reduce the need for on-site guards
Given the advancement of particularly cloud based CCTV systems, it may be possible to save on the cost of security guards.
Reducing staff onsite may also be necessary given Covid-19 restrictions. For example, one of Videoloft’s US-based partners installs a ‘virtual guard’ using Videoloft.
5. Reduce your insurance premiums with security cameras
As video surveillance can decrease the likelihood of theft, vandalism, and also liability claims, many insurance providers offer a significantly reduced cost to those sites with video surveillance. So it is worth asking your insurer!
6. Prevent accidents in real-time with video surveillance
Use your CCTV system as your eagle eye of the site to monitor safety and help to stop any potential accidents happening in real-time.
7. Quickly analyze situations
Video surveillance systems like Videoloft provide analytics features that allow object detection. This means you can quickly search your recorded video to find a specific delivery, or check that all of your employees are wearing hardhats.
8. Protect against liability claims with video evidence
Unfortunately, bogus ‘accidents’ do occur. Prevent liability claims with video footage of what really happened.
9. Learn to improve site efficiency and safety from your CCTV footage
Analyze the site’s progress and learn from any close calls or mistakes made.
10. Remote project management with video surveillance
Viewing all of your cameras remotely allows you to manage the entire site without needing to be there.
11. Create a timelapse video of your construction site
Easily track the progress on-site and share a great video once the work is completed. Videoloft has a timelapse feature so you can easily create and share them with your customers.
12. Provide you with peace of mind
If points 1-11 weren’t enough, peace of mind that your employee and site safety is enhanced surely is.
Resolving common challenges of construction site video surveillance with Videoloft
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How can I remotely access video surveillance footage with no internet connection?
Lack of wifi should not stop you being able to record to the cloud or access your cameras remotely.
If your construction site doesn’t have a wired internet connection then you can still monitor it remotely and around the clock using Videoloft. We have customers all over the world running our cloud video surveillance platform over 4/5G and Starlink networks.
Worried that video recording to the cloud will use a lot of data? Read more on cloud CCTV bandwidth requirements and why the cloud doesn’t have to be data-hungry.
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Will I lose video surveillance footage from a network outage?
What happens if you lose connection? If there’s a network outage the video footage will be stored to the edge and the Videoloft Cloud Adapter will automatically upload it to the cloud when the network is restored.
Even better, with Videoloft you can monitor the health of your cameras with the live camera health monitoring tool.
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How can I have CCTV on my construction site with no power supply?
Lack of power is frequent on sites that are based in remote locations or that haven’t been connected yet. But it doesn’t mean video surveillance isn’t possible.
Many temporarily rent a “CCTV tower” which has integrated solar panels. One example of a UK provider who offers CCTV towers and Videoloft as the VMS is Newvision Security Solutions.
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How can I protect myself from a theft of the recorder on-site?
Simple answer. Don’t use one. Have you ever seen Spenser Confidential? In one scene Mark Walhberg tries to steal what he believes is the recorder for the security cameras. When told the security cameras are recording directly to the cloud he says “What is a cloud.. give me the cloud”. Luckily, the footage is safe in the cloud and Mark can’t get his hands on it.
Record straight to the cloud with Videoloft and no longer run the risk of losing vital footage from deliberate or accidental damage.
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How can I set up employees with access to my video surveillance system?
With Videoloft’s multi-user permissions feature, you can easily give relevant stakeholders read-only or full admin access to all or specific cameras to track project progress remotely, or to keep an eye on the site when you can’t.
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How can I cover all angles of my construction site with my video surveillance system?
If you have PTZ cameras then you can control them remotely with Videoloft.
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How can I stop the weather from causing false alerts on my cloud video surveillance system?
By adding an optional PIR sensor to your Videoloft installation to reduce false alerts caused by bugs, rain, or wind.
This is great for getting accurate and reliable alerts and footage from large sites to catch the motion that matters the most to you. Videoloft is also teaching a neural network how to identify spiders/spider webs to further reduce false alerts.
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How can I schedule motion alerts on my video surveillance system to avoid being spammed?
Videoloft has a scheduling feature that allows you to set specific schedules to activate both recording and alerts. For example, if you only want to be notified at night then you can.
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Will it be compatible with my cameras?
Videoloft is compatible with a wide range of security cameras.
Cloud video surveillance for construction sites
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